How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?
There is no single test which clearly diagnoses early RA. When you first develop joint pains, it may be difficult for a doctor to say that you definitely have RA. This is because there are many other causes of joint pains.
Blood tests can detect inflammation, characteristic antibodies, and anaemia. These may suggest that you have RA, but do not prove that you definitely have it as these blood results can be caused by other conditions.
You may have a time of uncertainty when early symptoms 'could be' RA. In time, X-rays of joints may begin to show typical erosions (early damage) and other features of RA which makes the diagnosis more certain.
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- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Joints and rheumatoid arthritis
- What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
- How does rheumatoid arthritis develop and progress?
- Some other associated diseases and possible complications
- Rheumatoid arthritis treatments
- Treatment aim 1
- Treatment aim 2
- Treatment aim 3 and 4
- What is the outlook (prognosis) for people with rheumatoid arthritis?
